Apparently Boro are on sky tomorrow 3 pm ko
philip of Huddersfield 👍😁
Not sure what to expect this afternoon. Derby have a pretty poor home record. They are 20th in the home table, having gone four home games without a home win. They are third in the away table with one point less than we have away from the Riverside. However, they have only failed to score in one home game. They will be without leading scorer Carlton Morris who is a long term injury but do have some good forwards in Angyemang, Brereton Diaz and Brewster, although Brereton Diaz has only one goal in 19 appearances. So what will happen, has KH come up with a plan to score a goal? As the old terrace song goes "All we are saying is gives us a goal"
Apparently Boro are on sky tomorrow 3 pm ko
philip of Huddersfield 👍😁
it looks as if international broadcasters have not chosen this game and so it will be available on Riverside Live.
So far, my run of games whilst on holiday hasn‘t been crowned with success. Let’s hope 2026 represents a new dawn.
UTB
A Happy New Year to you all, your families and friends, here's hoping that what Santa didn't bring you on Christmas Day, 2026 does.
Three points today please as I practice my "Unlurking" exercises, as I prefer to keep my fingers on the keyboard and not waving them at the telly along with unmentionable expletives.
Lets hope the team are in better form than I am now, in the cold light of day after last nights celebrations ...
Happy New Year to all and here’s for a good start for Boro.
Looking at the stats, both Derby and us have scored 33 goals, the difference is we have had 219 shots, with 97 on target, whilst Derby 161, of which 76 were on target. So we have a high proportion of shots that are shots spelt with an I rather than O!!!
We can only hope that KH has worked out a way to get our players to put the round thing between the thing with two posts joined together across the top and a net behind it!
I could be wrong and maybe too many years of supporting Boro has clouded my memory but all too often we do seem to have a Christmas and New Year dip in form - so may 2026 see a change in our fortunes.
UTB
Sounds like you had a good one then- is that why the Scots have 2 bank holidays at New Year!
My head has just about recovered after copious amounts of Malbec.
Best wishes and happy New Year to one and all across the Diasboro.
Here’s hoping for health happiness and a successful 2026 for the Boro.
The statistics quoted by MW in Darwin is suggestive of a “typical Boro” performance which is exactly not the start we want to 2026; fingers and everything else crossed but not feeling overly confident based on recent performances. 😎
We need to get back to winning ways today, both to cement our league position and, just as importantly, to lift the mood of Diasboro members!
As Nina Simone almost said, “It’s a new day, it’s a new year, are we feeling good?”
As the old terrace song goes "All we are saying is give us a goal.”
Or two.
Or even three. Oh sorry, that’s just me being greedy.
Happy New Year and good health to you all.
CJ on Malanda about three-quarters of an hour ago:
Could we see [Adilson Malanda] make his debut today? It will be a huge boost for Boro if he can, given the injury crisis in defence. Whether or not he can, we're not yet certain.
Boro needed international clearance to come through in time in order for him to be available. From Boro's end, they did everything they could to make that a reality, but were then ultimately waiting on the English FA and the US Soccer Federation to complete their side of the paperwork.
Unfortunately, even though Malanda's been here for a few weeks now, the process of getting international clearance sorted could only begin at a certain date, which is why, ultimately, it goes down to the wire.
We'll soon find out if he's available or not, with plenty of excitement to see the Frenchman in action.
CJ's assessment of the line-up:
The big news then is that there is no Adilson Malanda today. Boro did not get that international clearance through in time, and therefore the defender will have to wait 'til Southampton on Sunday to make his Boro debut.
That means there's two changes for Boro as Morris and Burgzorg come in for Gilbert and Browne. Hackney will move back to CM, with Burgzorg going LF. Good news on Morris, who looked promising in his return the other day, but limped through the final five minutes.
As for the bench, none of the players who missed Monday have made it back today. That means Archie Baptiste takes his place on the Boro bench, having made his debut in the reverse fixture back in November.
CJ on Malanda about three-quarters of an hour ago:
Could we see [Adilson Malanda] make his debut today? It will be a huge boost for Boro if he can, given the injury crisis in defence. Whether or not he can, we're not yet certain.
Boro needed international clearance to come through in time in order for him to be available. From Boro's end, they did everything they could to make that a reality, but were then ultimately waiting on the English FA and the US Soccer Federation to complete their side of the paperwork.
Unfortunately, even though Malanda's been here for a few weeks now, the process of getting international clearance sorted could only begin at a certain date, which is why, ultimately, it goes down to the wire.
We'll soon find out if he's available or not, with plenty of excitement to see the Frenchman in action.
CJ again:
Told Malanda is here at Derby with Boro. The club were waiting on the US Soccer Federation to send what was required on their end in order for the clearance to come through.
It's been clarified that Boro could not apply for that until midnight last night, which they obviously did, as they tried to rush it through and get him registered in time to play today. Unfortunately, that has not come back from the USSF in time and therefore Malanda isn't available.
He should be available to play against Southampton on Sunday.
I suspect a wave of pessimism swept Teesside when that team sheet was announced.
Let's hope the reality is somewhat better.
My wish for today? A win, obviously, but I’d love to see Tommy Conway through on goal from a defence slicing pass, for him to go one on one with their keeper, to round him comfortably (whilst staying on his feet) and stick the ball in the back of the net. He’s got to score at some point hasn’t he? Let’s hope today’s the day.
@martin-bellamy. A dream for about 20 matches now! It has to come true sooner or later; let’s hope it’s the former. 😎
CJ after 23 minutes:
Midway through the first half and it's been all Boro so far. But, they've not been able to find a goal. Brynn has been virtually spectating so far. But Derby's early struggles in defence appear to be going as they tighten up and Boro aren't enjoying quite as many chances in the last five mins or so.
It was a really encouraging start. At least three really good goalscoring opportunities. They did not make them count again, however.
Frustrations building as referee Ruebyn Ricardo lets a few questionable fouls go. Boro need to keep their composure.
And after 28:
Conway denied
Great drive again from Brittain. He picks the early cross beyond the last defender where Conway lurks. With men charging back there's little time for a touch, so he goes for the first-time volley and hits it well. Zetterstrom with another solid save
... and onAnd the dream goes on ! 😎
It’s like Groundhog Day. Wave after wave of attacks but still no goals. Meanwhile, other teams are winning.
First half: 63% possession, 11 shots on goal, two of them on target, no goals (Derby 3/, also no goals)... CJ:
A largely positive half for Boro. They've been in complete control. But, they still don't have a goal to show for it. Today, they've created a number of genuinely good chances. But they just aren't sticking it in the back of the net. Plenty to be encouraged by, just need to add that clinical touch.
Well so far so good with the majority of objectives achieved, dominate the play, play good football, create chances which we fail to take; all we need is to make a silly mistake and let them score and mission accomplished! 😉
Seriously we do deserve something based on how we have played but it’s typical football, play well and don’t win, play poorly and win. CoB gives something to cheer this half. 😎
You have the feeling that if we do score one, then we will score a hat full. Trouble is you also have that dread feeling that it is going to be another of those days when you can't score.
Hackney and Conway the biggest offenders so far, but for all those obvious choices, it is disppointing the number of times (Hackney, Whittaker and Burgzorg, looking at you) take a punt on a long shot when it looks a better option to keep working the ball to create a definite chance.
Surely we will get a goal in the second half. Surely.
Something of a familiar story that first half for Boro - dominated possession but couldn't put their chances away and 2 of those chances were gilt-edged. Still nobody really playing as a striker and Conway and Sene are both too wide and Burgzorg is given the job of leading the line due to his physicality - though none of the three look like scoring with Conway just no longer confident in front of goal.
Brittain and Ayling have been the pick of the Boro players in the first half but this is a game where an on-form Boro should win with something to spare - though hard to imagine what could make the difference other than a goal.
Boro playing very well and in complete control but how many chances does this team need to score a goal !!
. Hackney clean through and fails, Burgzorg is put clean through but his first touch fails him and a later chance he can’t get the ball on target and finally Conway has two good chances but no good.
Derby will be delighted to still be in the game.
Surely Boro can win this game if they play as well as the second half. But could Derby win it ?
I am predicting nothing.
philip of Huddersfield 🫢🫢🫢
Conway can't remember which boots are on which foot when it comes to finishing, great tackling back but I thought that we bought him to score goals? Don't get me going over Burgzorg, or whatever his name is.
Get Morris off and Gilbert on, the former is back to his old ways of losing the ball just outside of our box, he's a goal against in waiting. Apart from that I don't see him adding anything going forward.
One last thing, can we please take these pansies to one side and demand that they stay on their feet and challenge for the ball, because we've got a ref that definitely doesn't like the Boro, so diving (again!!!) is going to get us nowhere.